MAYOR LURIE ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SF MUSIC WEEK, CONTINUES DRIVE TO REVITALIZE SAN FRANCISCO'S ECONOMY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2025
Contact: info@sflivefest.com
San Francisco’s First Industry Summit Celebrates City’s Rich Music Legacy, Aims to Strengthen Sector’s Growth and Economic Vitality
SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced the inaugural SF Music Week, in collaboration with SF Live, Noise Pop, and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). This citywide celebration will spotlight the past, present, and future of San Francisco’s renowned music scene with a dynamic program featuring panels, workshops, studio and venue tours, live performances, and more from February 24 through March 2, including an industry summit on February 28 at the Swedish American Hall.
SF Music Week aims to fortify San Francisco's position as a vibrant music hub by:
Elevating the city's music scene: Showcasing the local music community and reinforcing San Francisco's reputation as a city that champions the arts.
Fostering industry growth: Convening artists, industry leaders, and innovators to collaboratively explore strategies for a more sustainable and vibrant music ecosystem.
Empowering music professionals: Connecting industry members with resources and opportunities to advance their careers.
“The music industry is driving various economic investments throughout the city, highlighting how the arts are key to our comeback,” said Mayor Lurie. “SF Music Week will strengthen San Francisco’s position as a global hub of arts and culture, allowing us to foster innovation, attract talent, and support local businesses.”
The SF Music Week Industry Summit will be held at Swedish American Hall on February 28th, 2025.
The SF Music Week Industry Summit on Friday, February 28, is FREE to attend and will feature conversations with industry thought leaders. Ghazi, CEO and Founder of San Francisco’s EMPIRE, the US's largest privately held independent record label, distributor, and publisher, will participate in a keynote conversation to kick off the summit. Grammy-nominated producer David Katznelson, award-winning journalist Emma Silvers, and others will moderate panels exploring the past, present, and future of San Francisco's music scene.
The summit will feature a diverse range of participants, including:
Renowned Local Musicians: La Doña, Penelope Houston, Austin Waz, and more
Influential DJs and Promoters: DJ Dials, Aaron Axelsen, and others
Entertainment Attorney: Michael Aczon
Local Industry Executives: Allen Scott of Another Planet Entertainment, Michelle Swing of Noise Pop, Danny Bell of Goldenvoice, Dan Strachota of Rickshaw Stop and more to come
Throughout SF Music Week, official partner organizations will host a variety of unique events to showcase different elements of the local music ecosystem. Confirmed partner events include:
An afternoon of workshops and office hours with music business executives at Music City San Francisco to help emerging and established musicians grow their professional careers
Roundtable discussions with leading local music producers and engineers hosted by Hyde Street Studios
An evening of conversations on music industry trends and live performances presented by Gazetteer SF
Historic venue and studio tours, film screenings, musician master classes, pop-up performances and more
Additional official SF Music Week partners hosting events include EMPIRE, Bandcamp, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, The Fillmore, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, The Roxie Theater, KEXP, Blue Bear School of Music, Harlan Records, Market Street Arts, Alamo Drafthouse, Counsel LLP, Psyched Radio, and San Franpsycho. The full calendar of partner events will be regularly updated at www.sflivefest.com.
“Music has always been at the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant arts scene, and it’s about time we gave it the recognition it deserves! We are so excited to partner with industry leaders to launch the first-ever SF Music Week,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the Office of Economic & Workforce Development. “This week is more than just an event; it’s a platform to spark meaningful partnerships and conversations that will help unlock opportunities for local music’s future growth. San Francisco’s creative industries are a critical part of our local economy, and this initiative reaffirms our status as a top-tier music city.”
SF Music Week’s offerings run concurrently with the 2025 Noise Pop Festival. In 32 years of championing independent arts and culture, Noise Pop Festival has blossomed into a 10-day, 160+ band, 80+ event, 25+ venue music and arts festival that remains a staple in the San Francisco Bay Area. Noise Pop Festival is a true celebration of independent music and arts. Taking place across multiple venues throughout the city of San Francisco, Noise Pop Festival is a way to explore new artists, venues and nightlife. Festival badges can be purchased at NoisePop.com for entrance to all shows, activities, and parties throughout the week.
"SF Music Week represents a pivotal moment for our city's rich musical heritage and its promising future," said Stacy Horne, Event Producer for Noise Pop Industries. "By partnering with SF Live and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, we're not just celebrating our vibrant music scene, but also actively shaping a more sustainable ecosystem for artists, venues, and music lovers alike."
September 2024 - DJ duo Goldfish headlines a free SF Live concert in Union Square.
SF Music Week was inspired by the success of SF Live, a six-month series of free music concerts launched in May 2024 by esteemed San Francisco arts and music producers Illuminate, San Francisco Parks Alliance, Noise Pop, and Union Square Alliance. Supported by Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, SF Live is one of several initiatives to support the local nightlife and entertainment sector. SF Live has been supported through a $2.5 million investment from the California State Legislature that was led by City Attorney David Chiu when he was a State Assemblymember.
For more information on partner events, panels, and details of the summit visit www.sflivefest.com.
